Details
Welcome to Cusco, the heart of the Inca Empire! Join us on this captivating half-day tour to explore the city’s most significant historical sites. Stroll through ancient streets and charming plazas in Qosqo, where history comes alive.
As you walk through Cusco, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Americas, you’ll journey through time—witnessing traces of Native American heritage, Inca glory, Spanish influence, and modern-day Cusco life.
Beyond its historical treasures, Cusco boasts a vibrant culture and world-renowned cuisine, sure to exceed your expectations and leave you with unforgettable memories.
Departure & Return Location
Cusco hotel transfer
Departure Time
1:00 PM
Price Includes
Price Excludes
Itinerary
Day 1: Cathedral - Qoricancha - Sacsayhuaman - Q'enqo - Puca Pucara - Tambomachay
Your half-day city tour begins with a convenient pickup between 12:40 and 13:00, where we’ll take you straight to the heart of Cusco’s historic center. Our first stop is the majestic Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, Cusco’s main square. Here, you’ll explore an array of incredible paintings from the renowned Cusco School of Art, along with intricate works in gold leaf and embossed silver.
Next, we’ll visit the Qoricancha, or Temple of the Sun, where you’ll marvel at its remarkable stonework and unique architecture, reserved exclusively for Cusco’s most significant Inca temples.
Afterward, we’ll take a short drive out of the city center to visit four major Inca archaeological sites: Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay.
Sacsayhuaman:
Located just 2 km from Cusco, this site features enormous stones meticulously carved and assembled with astounding precision. Its strategic layout and expansive plaza offer breathtaking views of Cusco and the surrounding landscape.
Q’enqo:
Known for its ceremonial importance, Q’enqo boasts a fascinating network of small underground passageways and a semicircular amphitheater that once held Inca mummies in its niches.
Puca Pucara:
Named the “Red Fortress” due to the iron-rich, reddish stones, this site may have once served as a resting and defensive post on the way to Tambomachay. Here you’ll find finely crafted fountains, aqueducts, and well-preserved Inca architecture.
Tambomachay:
Known as the site of the water cult, this complex has beautiful waterfalls and aqueducts carrying water from natural springs. Its impressive engineering showcases the Incas’ reverence for water.
Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun):
Dedicated to Inti, the sun god, this once-gilded temple houses smaller shrines dedicated to other deities. Here, the mastery of Inca ashlar masonry is on full display, and the blend of Inca and colonial architecture creates a truly unique site.
Cusco’s Cathedral:
Standing proudly on the Plaza de Armas, this colonial monument contains exquisite wood carvings, silver works, and paintings from the Cusco School, including a unique depiction of the Last Supper featuring Andean cuisine. The cathedral is one of Cusco’s most historically significant landmarks.
Your tour concludes around 18:30, when we’ll return you to your accommodation in Cusco, giving you a free evening to continue exploring the vibrant city on your own.
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